Railway traffic controlling apparatus



Nov. 8, 1932. c. w. FAILOR 1,387,261

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 24, 1951 A J c 2 -j- '-2 L 0 L 0 7 i G 25 T 22 G a INVENTOR. Clzar'les Wizilon' 20 2? 9% ZZS 9P- 95 W 0 20 I? 58 n By -U HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 8, 1932 S'UNII'TEDH sTAT s arm 1 OFFICE"- CHARLES w. 1111.03, orronnsrnrpnsrnnnsvnvnmafAssIc-Non'To THE Timon swrrcn & SIGNAL comranv, on swrssvann, rnnnsrnvan'ra, a coaroaa'rron or nArLwAY rn rrIo oon'rnonnrno APrAnArUs j Application flled November 24, 1 931. s'eiiaijmi 577,065

' inventionrelatesi to railway trailic controlling apparatus, and more specifically to apparatus for the elimination of an undesirable signal indication under certain traflic conditions. In particular, nyinvention is directed toward the elimination of a momentary greenfla'sh produced by 'a light signal when a light weight,high speed rail vehicle passes from one'track' section into thenext.

I'will describe one form of railway traffic controlling apparatus embodying myinventures thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing. I have shown a stretch of railway track" divided by insulated joints into sections A-B and B-eC, 7

each having the usual source of energy 2, and a track relay designated by the reference characterT with a distinguishing exponent. Traflic entering the section A 13 is controlled by a light signal S", and trafiic leaving the section BC is controlled by a similar light signal S Signals S and S are threeaspect color lightsignals of the type wherein one lamp in con]unction with one reflector and lenscombina-tion is capable of providing three distinct indications by means of three movable, translucent, colored roundels'placed in the path of the light beam and actuated by a "three-position polarized relay mechanism. 0 h

Each signal S and S comprises a rotatable armature 3 to which are aflixed the colored 1 roundels G, Rand Y. Armature 3 is polarized in any suitable manner as, for example,

by the field from a permanent magnet or electromagnet; so that its direction of'rotation' will depend upon the polarity of cur rent supplied to winding 4. The structureof signals Sf and S is not shown in detail as itforms no part of my present invention.

7 When winding 4' of s gnal S is deener-V gized, armature 3 which is biased by gravity to its neutral position =will cause roundel R:

to occupy apositionjin front of the lam L,

tion, and will thenpoint out the novel fea- V lamp L to display a yellow signal, and contacts 8-728 and 9v29 will become closed. 7

- ea d; a

and 9 30 actuated by armature 3 willbe closed; VVhen winding 4 is energized with displayingared signal, and contacts 8 28 current ofa given polarity- 'which I shall term the normal polarity,'armature 8' will rotate in the clockwise direction to the position in 'dicated infthe drawing, whereby a green sig nal wil be displayed and contacts 8- 27 and 9 30 will be closed. If'the polarity of cur-'-v rent supplied to winding 4 is reversed, arma-". ture 3 will rotate in the counterclockwise di"- rection, placing roundel Y in front of the fore track relay '1 hasvsuflicient time to release,'under-which condition, for ashortin terval of time, both relays T and T would be picked up. Therefore, signal S -which had been displaying a red indication due to opening of the circuit for winding; of this signal at contacts 23 and 24 of relay T would display a momentary false green flash prior to the instant when the train shunt became effective to release relay T? That is, thesimultaneous energization of relays T, T and Ti, for ashortinterval of time is suflicient to cause an undesirable greenflash to be given by signal S prior to the steady yel- 1, low indication produced following the re;

lease of relay T A similar result might follow should a light car enter thetrack section" a B-C at highspeed, in which case relay T might pick up beforejrelay .T became 're- In the circuit embodyingmy invention, interpose a front contact of the slow pick-up relay R inthe circuit for lamp. L of signal Sfin, such manner that when currentofnor first picks up and closes the lamp circuit at front contact 14. The pick-up time interval of relay B is chosen of suilicient length to insure that lamp L will not become illum1- nated until after relay T releases, following a pick-up of relay T under the most adverse 'traific conditions. The objection to the momentary dark signal which results when lamp L isextinguished during the interval of-the green fiash is small as compared with the objection to the false green flash itself.

To explain in greater detail the manner in which the apparatusfunctions, I shall describe the operations involved first, when a car passes slowly from left to right through the section A-C, and then, when the same car passes points B and C at high speech en the car occupies track section A' B, wlnding 4 of signal S is deenergized at contacts 5 and 6 of track relay T and armature 3 is caused by gravity to assume its neutral position in which roundel R becomes placed in front. of lamp L. Signal S will display a red indication because lamp L will be illuminated by virtue of a circuit starting at one terminal X of a suitable source, contact 8- 28 of the mechanism of signal S wire 13, wire' 22, and lamp L to the other terminal of the same source. .Whenthe car enters section B-G at slow speed, signal S will continue to display red, because, although contacts 5.

and 6 of relay T will have, become closed, contacts-23 and 24 of relay'l will be opened prior to the closing of contacts and 6 of re lay T so that winding 4: of relay T will continue to remain deenergized VJ hen the car passes at slow speed beyond point C, relay T? will pick up after relayT will have become released. The release of re lay T will deenergize' winding' l of signal S and relay R will become deenergized due to opening of contact827 of the mechanism of signal S The'release of relay R will cause current of reverse polarity to be applied to winding l of signal S over a circuit starting at one terminal X of a suitable source, wire 31, back contact 16 of relay R wire 19, front contact 24 of relay T wire 26, front contact '6 of relay T Winding 4 of signal S front contact 5 of relay T wire 25, front contact 23 of relay T wire 20, back contact of relay R and wire 18 to the other terminal 0.

of the source. Armature 3 of signal S? will now rotate in the counter-clockwise direction from its neutral position, causing signal 5* r to display a yellowindicatlon.

ssume now that the car passes point B at high speed and relay T picks up before relay T releases, so that winding it of signal S will receive an impulse of current of normalpolarity over front contact 7 of relay T front contacts 15 and 16 of relay R and front contacts 23 and 24,and 5 and 6, of relays T high speed and relay T picks up before relay 7 T releases, winding 4; of signal S will receive an impulse of current of normal polarity, as before, and the'pick-up interval of relay R will again be effective in preventing illumination of lamp L for an interval of time suflicient to permit relayT to release.

One advantage of apparatus embodying my invention is thatI'have provided means for eliminating a false green signal flash which might occurunder certain traflic conditions by substituting a momentary dark signal therefor, without interfering in, any manner with the normal sequence or speed of response of'signal indications as commonly obtained under usual traflic conditions.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railway traffic controlling apparatus embo'dying'my invention,

it is understood that various changes and modifications may bemade therein within the scope of the appended claimswithout de- 7 part ing from the spirit and Scope of'my invention. I i

Having thus'd'escribedmy invention, what Iclaim isz v L'RailWay signaling apparatus comprising in combination, an electric lamp, a first circuit for energizing said lamp, a mechanism including a winding forcausing said lamp to display one indication when said winding is energized and another indication when said winding is deenergized, means governed by trafiic conditions for at times energizing said winding, a slow pick-up relay, a first contact controlled by said mechanism for energizing said slow pick-up relay when said winding is energized, a second contact controlledby said mechanism for energizing said first circuit when said winding*isdeenergized, and a second circuit for energizing said lamp -governed by saidslow pick-up relay.

2.-R-ailway signaling apparatus comprising said lamp to display one indication when said winding is energized and another indication w'hen said winding is deenergized, means governed by tra'fiic conditions for at times energizing said "winding, a 'slow pickuprelay, means jefi'ective when said winding is energized for energizing said slow pickup relay, meanseffective when said winding is deenergized for energizing said first cir cuit, and means governed by said slow pickup relay for energizing said second circu t.

3. Railway signaling apparatus comprising in combination, an electric lamp, a first and a second circuit for energizing said lamp, a mechanism including a winding for causing said lamp to displayone indication when said winding is energized and another indication when said winding is deenergized,

means governed by trafiic conditions for at times energizing said winding, a slow pickup relay, means efi'ective'when said winding is energized for energizing said slow pick-up relay, means effective when said winding is deenergized for energizing said first circuit, and a contact controlled by said slow pickup relay for energizing said second circuit.

l. Railway signaling apparatus comprising in combination, an electric lamp, a first and a second circuit for energizing jsaid' a slow pick-up relay, means efiective when said winding is energized with current of either normal or reverse polarity for energizing said slow pick-up relay, means efiective when said winding is either deenergized or is energized with current of reverse polarity for energizing said first circuit, and means governed by said slow pick-up relay 'it'or energizing said second circuit.

5. Railway signaling apparatus comprising in combination, an electric lamp, a circult for energizing said lamp, a mechanism including a winding for causing said lamp to display one indication when said winding is energized and another indication when said winding is deenergized, means governed by traiiic conditions for at times energizing said winding, a slow acting contact included in said lamp circuit and governed by said winding in such manner that said contact:

becomes closed a definite timeinterval after said winding 1s energized, and means governed by said winding effective when said winding is deenergized for short circuiting said slow acting-contact.

6. In combinatiom'a stretch of railway track divided into the usual block sections,

asource of energy and a track relay for each block section; a light signal for governing trafiic into one of said block sections comprising an electric lamp, an energizing circuit therefor, a winding, anda mechanism governed by said winding for causing said lamp to display one indication when said ,winding is: energized and another indication when said windingis deenergized means-governed by the track relay associated with said one block'section for at times energizing i said winding, means effective when said winding is energized for preventing the energization of said lamp circuit until: afterthe'expirw' tion of a predeterminedtime interval,and means effective when said w nding is deenergized forenergizing'said lamp circuit. 7 In combination, a stretch of railway track divided. into the usual block SGCtlOIlS,

a source of energy and a track relay for each block section; a light si n-al for governing trafiic into one or more 0 said block sections comprising an electric lamp, a first and a second energizing circuit therefor, a winding,

and a mechanism governed by saidwinding 1 for'causing said lamp to display one indication when said winding is energized and an other indication when said winding is deenergized; an energizing circuit 'for said winding including" afront contact of each of two track relays associated with two adjoining block sections immediately in ad,-'

Vance of said signal, a time measuring de+ vice, means governed by said windingfor energizing said'time measuring device when said winding is energized, means governed by said winding for energizing said first lamp circuit when said winding is deener- 'gized, and means governed by said time measuring device effective afterv the expiration of a definite time" interval following the energization of said device for energizing said second lamp circuit. 7 I

8. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into the usual block sections, a source of energy and a trackrelay for each block section; a light signalfor governing traflic into one or more of said block sections comprising an electric lamp, and afmechanism including a winding for causing said lamp to "display a first, second or-third in-V dication according as said winding is deenergized, energized with current of normal polarity, or energized with current of reverse polarity respectively; means for energizing said winding with current of normal polarity when and only "when three track" relays associated with three adjoining block sect-ions immediately in advance of said sig- 'nal are energized, meansfor energizing said winding with current of reverse polarity whenand'only when two traclrrelays associated with two adjoining vblock sections im-v mediately inadvance of said signalare energized and a third track relay associated with the third block section in advance of i said signalis deenergized, means for deenergizing said winding when either or both of two track relays associated with two adjoining block sections immediately in advance of said signal are deenergized, aslow pick-up relay; a 'first, second and'third contact con- Q trolled by said winding closed respectively when said winding is energized with current of normal polarity when said Winding is encrglzed with current of reverse polarity, and

Whensaid Winding is deenergized; a clrcuit for energizingsald sloWi plck-up relay having two branch paths one of which includes said first contact and the other of which includes said second contact, and a circuit for energizing said lamp having two branch :paths one of which includes said third contact and the other of which includes a'front contact of said slow pick-up relay.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES W. FAILOR. 

